Coupling device

ABSTRACT

A first conduit is coupled to a second conduit by a plunger that is secured to the first conduit and is movable into engagement with a seating surface on the second conduit. A plunger pusher, activated by fluid operated toggle linkages, moves the plunger pusher and plunger into cooperation with the seating surface. Clamps that are operated by the plunger pusher surround the second conduit and hold the plunger in contact with the seating surface.

United States Patent [191 Gouye [451 Aug. 27, 1974 COUPLING DEVICE [75] Inventor: Emmanuel V. Gouye, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Koppers Company, lne, Pittsburgh,

22 Filed: Apr. 19, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 245,348

[52] ILLS. Cl. 141/383, 202/262 [51] Int. Cl B65b l/04, B65b 3/04 [58] Field of Search 202/262, 263; 214/18 PH; 55/229, 230, 257, 385; 98/115; 137/561;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,410,447 3/1922 Becker 202/263 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sherman H. Barber; Olin E. Williams; Oscar B. Brumback ABSTRACT A first conduit is coupled to a second conduit by a plunger that is secured to the first conduit and is movable into engagement with a seating surface on the second conduit. A plunger pusher, activated by fluid operated toggle linkages, moves the plunger pusher and plunger into cooperation with the seating surface. Clamps that are operated by the plunger pusher surround the second conduit and hold the plunger in contact with the seating surface.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIlimfmusznm smurfs FIG. 2

11 COUPLING DEVICE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a guide frame, which is resiliently mounted in position adjacent to a source of fluid, such as steam, under pressure. The guide frame supports two sets of jack or toggle linkages and a cylinder-piston system for actuating the toggle linkages. The toggle linkages urge a plunger pusher device upward against a plunger having a spherical upper end that coacts with a frusto-conical seat in the bottom flange coupling of an accumulator that is to receive the pressurized fluid.

A valve, that is actuated by a limit switch, is disposed in a loop of piping carrying fluid from a source thereof to the apparatus and through the apparatus to an accumulator on a larry car or the like.

Upon actuating the toggle linkages, the plunger moves into coaction with the accumulator and fluid under pressure flows through the piping loop into the accumulator. When the accumulator is filled, the toggle linkages are again actuated to withdraw the plunger and to close the valve in the piping loop. At the same time, a check valve in the accumulator closes to prevent outward flow of the fluid therefrom.

For a further understanding of the invention and for features and advantages thereof, reference may be made to the following description and the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of equipment in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a schematic perspective view of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section of the apparatus of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a view, partly in section, along the line III- III of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION One application of the device or apparatus of the present invention is for use in charging a steam accumulator mounted on a coal charging or larry car of a coke oven battery, with steam derived from a steam generator located at one end of the coke oven battery near the coventional coal bins. It should be understood that the apparatus shown, described and claimed herein is not limited in application only to use in coke ovens, but it may be used in applications wherever high pressure and high temperature fluids are to be transferred from one vessel to another vessel safely, quickly and automatically. The apparatus of the invention is particularly adaptable for remote control operation.

Referring to FIG. 1, apparatus 11 in accordance with the present invention is shown in position to effect connection to a steam accumulator 13 which is mounted on a coal charging or larry car 14.

The apparatus III is fluidly connected by means of conduit 15 to a steam generator 17 that is located at one end of a coke oven battery.

The apparatus 11 comprises generally a guide frame 19 that is comprised of two upright side members 21, 23 that are connected together by member 25 at the top and by member 27 at the bottom. To the bottom member 27 there are mounted oppositely as shown in FIG. 2, two sets ofjack or toggle linkages 29, 31. Each jack or toggle linkage 29, 31 includes pairs of pivotally connected together links 33, 35 and 37, 39; the upper ends of the links 37, 39 being pivotally connected to a plunger pusher device 41 that moves vertically within the guide frame 19, as described hereinafter.

A cylinder-piston assembly 43 is provided with trunnions 45 that pivotally connect links 33, 35 to links 37, 39, and its piston rod 47 is connected by a clevis 49 to another pin 51, that connects the pairs of links in the jack linkage 29.

The plunger pusher 41, as shown in FIG. 2, surrounds the lower portion 53 of a plunger 55 disposed within the guide frame 19. The plunger 55 is resiliently biased by means of a compression spring 57 toward the plunger pusher 41.

The upper end of the plunger 55 has a rounded surface 59, which is part of a spherical surface. The spherical surface portion 59 is threaded. onto the plunger 55 so as to effect easy and ready replacement whenever, due to excessive wear, replacement is necessary or desirable.

The plunger 55 is also provided with oppositely disposed supports 61, 63 to each one of which a clamp lifter 65, 67 are pivotally mounted. The clamp lifters 65, 67 are resiliently biased, as by springs 69, 71 surrounding guide pins 73, 75, to the supports 61, 63, as shown in FIG. 2. The upper ends of the clamp lifters 65, 67 are fitted with through bolts 77, 79 and cam rollers 80 which coact with elongate slots 81, 83 in the clamps 85, 87.

Each clamp 85, 87 is pivotally mounted at one end, as at 89, 91, to the top member 25, and the other end of the clamp 85, 87 is V-shaped, as at 93, 95, for a purpose that will be evident from the description hereinafter.

The bottom of the steam accumulator 13 is provided with a check valve 96 and a conduit 97, to which is fit ted a flanged coupling 99. The coupling 99 is provided internally with a seat member 101 having a sloping seating face 103, about as shown in FIG. 2. The seat member 101 is secured inplace by means of elongate bolts 105 so that the seat member can be removed, resurfaced if necessary, or replaced entirely if desired.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the steam conduit 15 connects to a steam regulating valve 107 which is fitted to a conduit 109 that is curved and fitted within the plunger 55, as is shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the plunger 55 is connected to the steam conduit 15, and steam is therefore carried to and through a central opening passageway 11] in the plunger 55. The conduit 109 is welded to the plunger 55, as at 113, in order to make a steam tight joint therebetween.

In operation, the coupling device of the present in vention is used in the following way and under the circumstanc'es described.

In accordance with the present invention, a steam accumulator is mounted to the coal charging or Iarry car on a coke oven battery and a steam generating unit is mounted to the coke oven battery at a convenient location near the usual coal bins on the battery.

While the larry car is at the coal bins receiving a fresh charge of coal, the steam accumulator 13 on the larry car is connected to the steam generating unit by means of the coupling device of the present invention and is recharged with steam in the following manner.

The apparatus 11 will, while the larry car is being recharged, be positioned directly below the coupling 99 on the steam accumulator 13, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The apparatus 1 l, as may be noticed from FIG. 1, is normally supported on springs 115 connected to the four corners of the bottom member 27 and to four vertical support members 117 connected to thecoke oven battery. Wherefore, the apparatus 11 is resiliently mounted.

The cylinder-piston 43 is first actuated so as to withdraw the piston rod 45. This actuates the toggle or jack links 29, 31, and urges the plunger pusher 41 upward against the spring 57. The spring 57, is a preferred embodiment, would be of the Belleville type, although another type of spring may be used if preferred. The spring 57 acts on the plunger 55 and urges it upward. As the plunger moves upward, the clamp lifters 65, 67, acting trough the cam rollers 80 and slots 81, 83, swing the V-shaped ends 93, 95 of the clamps 85, 87 around the cylindrical portion of the coupling 99 and force one-half of the coupling assembly to move laterally about its spring suspension 115, 117, and about the pipe loop 15 so that it is aligned with the other coupling portion.

The plunger pusher continues to move upward, and the spherical end 59 of the plunger coacts with the frusto-conical seat face 103 of the opposite coupling 99. The V-shaped clamp portions coact with the flange portion of the coupling 99, thereby securely holding the couplings together. As the cylinder-piston continues to act on the toggle linkages, the spring pack 57 is compressed further, thereby increasing thespressure of the plunger on the seat face, and the toggle linkages are finally locked in their extreme position.

It should be noted that as the toggle linkages are actuated to urge the plunger upward, the jacking action is rapid initially, but then becomes progressively slower, while the force exerted by the plunger is low initially but gradually increases and approaches infinity in value as the toggle linkages tend to assume a straight line form.

The spring packs 69, between the clamp lifters 65, 67 and plunger 55, are designed to permit the cam roller 80 to move around the clamp pivot 119 at the beginning of the stroke, and to apply increasing clamping pressure on the coupling as the plunger moves upward.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the loop 15 is large enough to be flexible and thereby allow enough upward and downward movement of the plunger, which is welded to the piping of the loop.

It should also be noted that the steam valve in the looped conduit may be actuated by a limit switch (not shown) when the toggle links reach a preselected position and when the force exerted by the plunger is about maximum. Thus, there would be little or no likelihood that any steam would escape to atmosphere from the plunger-seating coupling.

From the foregoing description of one embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art should recognize many important features and advantages of it, among which the following are particularly significant:

That the spherical end portion of the plunger easily and readily makes a pressure tight seal with the coupling on the accumulator even though there may be some slight axial misalignment of the plunger and coup g;

That the pressure exerted by the toggles on the plunger exceeds the force exerted by the fluid pressure carried in the piping that tends to separate the plunger from the coupling;

That the pipe loop communicating fluid to the plunger permits enough vertical motion of the plunger without having to use sliding joints between the plunger and the fluidpiping; and

That the transfer of fluid under high pressure is effected automatically; without manually operating any valves or making any manual connection; the apparatus being connected together automatically upon actuating a control in the larry car and being disconnected automatically in the same manner.

Although the invention has been described herein with a certain degree of particularity it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only as an example and that the scope of the invention is defined by what is hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A coupling device for connecting a first conduit to a second conduit, comprising:

a. a frame having top and bottom members;

b. a plunger reciprocably disposed in said frame with said plunger being connected to the first conduit and having a fluid passage through said plunger; with c. the second conduit having a seating member attached thereto adapted to coact with said plunger and thereby form a pressure-tight seal;

d. means secured to said frame and to said plunger for reciprocating said plunger into engagement with said seating member; and

e. means secured to said frame that acts responsively to the motion of said said plunger and that secures said plunger and said seating means in engagement.

2. The invention of claim 1 including:

a. means resiliently mounting said coupling device.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said first conduit is looped and connected to a source of fluid under pressure; and wherein b. said means for reciprocating said plunger includes a pair of toggle linkages with a cylinder-piston arrangement connected thereto for actuating said linkages.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said seating member has a frusto-conical face that coacts with said plunger; and wherein b. said seating member is removably secured in position relative to said second conduit.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein:

a. said plunger has a partially spherical end that is adapted to coact with said frusto-conical face.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein:

a. said means for reciprocating said plunger is a pusher connected to said linkage and coacting with said plunger; and wherein b. said means acting responsively is a pair of clamps that coact with said second conduit when said plunger moves toward said second conduit and coacts with said frustoconical face.

7. The invention of claim 6 including:

a. pivotal link means connected to said plunger and to said clamps whereby, when said plunger moves toward said second conduit, said clamps pivot into position to secure said plunger into engagement with said seating member.

8. A coupling device for connecting a first conduit to a second conduit, comprising:

a. a frame having top and bottom members;

b. a plunger having a fluid flow passage therethrough reciprocably disposed in said frame; with c. the first conduit connected to said plunger for carrying fluid thereinto;

d. a pair of toggle linkages pivotally mounted to said bottom member and pivotally mounted to e. aplunger pusher engageable with said plunger for reciprocating the same in said frame;

1. resilient means coacting with said plunger and said plunger pusher;

g. means for actuating said toggle linkages simultaneously to reciprocate said plunger pusher and said plunger;

h. a pair of clamps pivotally mounted to said top member that are adapted to coact with said second conduit when said plunger moves toward said second conduit and to hold said plunger in contact with said second conduit;

l means connecting each clamp to said plunger pusher whereby said clamp pivots as said plunger pusher reciprocates;

j. a seating member attached to said second conduit fluidactuated cylinder-piston assembly. 

1. A coupling device for connecting a first conduit to a second conduit, comprising: a. a frame having top and bottom members; b. a plunger reciprocably disposed in said frame with said plunger being connected to the first conduit and having a fluid passage through said plunger; with c. the second conduit having a seating member attached thereTo adapted to coact with said plunger and thereby form a pressuretight seal; d. means secured to said frame and to said plunger for reciprocating said plunger into engagement with said seating member; and e. means secured to said frame that acts responsively to the motion of said said plunger and that secures said plunger and said seating means in engagement.
 2. The invention of claim 1 including: a. means resiliently mounting said coupling device.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said first conduit is looped and connected to a source of fluid under pressure; and wherein b. said means for reciprocating said plunger includes a pair of toggle linkages with a cylinder-piston arrangement connected thereto for actuating said linkages.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said seating member has a frusto-conical face that coacts with said plunger; and wherein b. said seating member is removably secured in position relative to said second conduit.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein: a. said plunger has a partially spherical end that is adapted to coact with said frusto-conical face.
 6. The invention of claim 4 wherein: a. said means for reciprocating said plunger is a pusher connected to said linkage and coacting with said plunger; and wherein b. said means acting responsively is a pair of clamps that coact with said second conduit when said plunger moves toward said second conduit and coacts with said frustoconical face.
 7. The invention of claim 6 including: a. pivotal link means connected to said plunger and to said clamps whereby, when said plunger moves toward said second conduit, said clamps pivot into position to secure said plunger into engagement with said seating member.
 8. A coupling device for connecting a first conduit to a second conduit, comprising: a. a frame having top and bottom members; b. a plunger having a fluid flow passage therethrough reciprocably disposed in said frame; with c. the first conduit connected to said plunger for carrying fluid thereinto; d. a pair of toggle linkages pivotally mounted to said bottom member and pivotally mounted to e. a plunger pusher engageable with said plunger for reciprocating the same in said frame; f. resilient means coacting with said plunger and said plunger pusher; g. means for actuating said toggle linkages simultaneously to reciprocate said plunger pusher and said plunger; h. a pair of clamps pivotally mounted to said top member that are adapted to coact with said second conduit when said plunger moves toward said second conduit and to hold said plunger in contact with said second conduit; i. means connecting each clamp to said plunger pusher whereby said clamp pivots as said plunger pusher reciprocates; j. a seating member attached to said second conduit which coacts with said plunger to form a fluid tight seal; and k. resilient means coacting with said plunger pusher and said means connecting each clamp.
 9. The invention of claim 8 including: a. resilient means supporting said coupling device adjacent said second conduit.
 10. The invention of claim 8 wherein: a. said means for actuating said toggle linkages is a fluidactuated cylinder-piston assembly. 